Tactics and FIDE Rating

I found it interesting that Chess Tempo provides an estimated FIDE rating based on one's tactics rating. I’d very much like to play in a U.S.C.F. tournament for fun and a rating, but I will need to start my own chess club (in the works) because Los Angeles is too far, especially with current gasoline prices. For those with a FIDE/U.S.C.F. rating – how close is this rating to your tactics rating?  

Disclaimer from Chess Tempo

"The FIDE rating estimate, is just that , an estimate, while on average it is within around 150 rating points of your actual FIDE rating, however there will be large differences for some users, and therefore the estimate should not be taken too seriously."

I just started Blitz tactics and am steadily climbing up the leader board. Only better than 4 percent of the members, I have a long way to go. I’ve been working at Standard Tactics for some time now, so as a beginning chess player, I feel pretty good at being better than 36 percent of the members.  

My Chess Tempo stats for standard tactics

Rating: 1443.4 (RD: 36.32) (Best Active Rating: 1551 Worst Active Rating: 829)
Active Rank: 5492/8638 (Better than: 36.42% Best Active: 2018 Worst Active: 6045)
Problems Done: 1982 (Correct: 1494 Failed: 488)
Percentage correct: 75.38%
Average recent per problem time spent 204 seconds
FIDE Estimated Rating based on standard tactics: 1565

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My Chess Tempo stats for blitz tactics

Rating: 1291.4 (RD: 34.9) (Best Active Rating: 1368 Worst Active Rating: 1190)
Active Rank: 844/882 (Better than: 4.31% Best Active: 802 Worst Active: 851)
Problems Done: 189 (Correct: 160 Failed: 29)
Percentage correct: 84.66%
Average recent per problem time spent 26 seconds
FIDE Estimated Rating based on blitz tactics: 1471

By tactics rating you mean the one in the tactics trainer?

In post #1, my tactics ratings are came from Chess Tempo. With that said, the Chess.com Tactics Trainer rating would also work.

I would like feedback from players who already have a FIDE, USCF or RD rating. My question is this: How similar is your tactics rating, here at Chess.com or at Chess Tempo, to your OTB rating?

Example response: My tactics rating is 2000 and my USCF rating is 1950.

I've read in numerous books that chess is 99% tactics.

Yes and No. See the Disclaimer from Chess Tempo in post #1. Yet, Chess Tempo does provide an estimated FIDE rating that is within 150 points of one's actual FIDE rating.

The Tactics Trainer ratings of our own I.M.'s and their FIDE ratings are about 150 points apart, equal to the Chess Tempo estimates.

Examples:

IM Shankland - Tactics Trainer Rating = 2719, FIDE Rating = 2513

IM dpruess - Tactics Trainer Rating = 2709 USCF Rating = 2457

Chesstempo's estimate is not bad at all, as it takes into account the results of FIDE-rated players. For example, if all 2000 elo FIDE-rated players score 1900 on chesstempo, and you score 1900 yourself, the server would assess your strength as 2000 FIDE.

Keep up the good work - I used Chesstempo on a regular basis during one full year and my playing strength OTB readily increased because of that

Time spent solving the problem has an effect on the rating that chess tempo will give you.   My Fide estimate on chesstempo was at times as low as 1400 but I am a USCF 1870 player.  It is common (and totally understandable) for someone without a rating to want to estimate their playing strength based on internet ratings, chess tactics sites, etc. but often a player in an internet game is not applying himself to the game as he would OTB, and the FIDE number on chess tempo is , as has been said, only garnering an estimate based on solving tactical problems, which is only one aspect of a game. 

I greatly appreciate the feedback.

 @ hicetnunc

So, the estimate takes into account FIDE rated players. That’s good to know. Chess Tempo definitely feels like a place for the serious chess player. You have to pay a fee just to solve chess puzzles. The members, including me, are either downright crazy or really love solving puzzles!

@ happyfanatic

I agree. There are so many parts to this complex game. During the several months away from playing full chess games, I still spent time solving tactics problems. Just recently, I started playing rated games against the Chess Tempo computer. I can see a tactic here or there, but I’m real rusty, getting beat by the stupid machine far too often.

Is there any real difference between this site, and theirs? Other than the rating estimate thing, I mean.

I believe the tactic trainer rating here at chess.com is much higher than a FIDE rating. Im 1700 fide rating, and about 2000 tactic trainer. Its the same with 3 of my friends, and my coach is about 2300 fide rating, and over 2500 tactic trainer.

Yes.

1. At Chess.com there's only one time control for tactics - fast. Chess Tempo has two time controls, blitz and standard.

a) Blitz at CT works the same as Tactics Trainer here. The longer you take to solve a problem, the fewer points gained and, if you take even more time, points are deducted.

b) For standard, you have an unlimited amount of time to solve each problem without penalty. Points are never deducted for correct answers. It gives you the feeling of solving a chess position in a slow chess game. I like it a lot, especially after work, when my mind is too tired to think at blitz speed.

2. Chess Tempo has rated endgame tactics, something which I will start doing agian on a daily basis. It's real endgame stuff, with just a few pieces on the board.

Example: My endgame stats.

Stats for endgame theory

Rating: 1454.7 (RD: 188.61)
Active Rank: Not Active/623
Problems Done: 35 (Correct: 27 Failed: 8)
Percentage correct: 77.14%

Stats for endgame practice

Rating: 1500 (RD: 350)
Active Rank: Not Active/301
Problems Done: 0
Percentage correct: n/a

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There are many other skill/knowledge building things to do at Chess Tempo, but your question regarded tactics.

Like chess.com, the basics are free. The more you pay, the more you get. I did it for free at first, but after a while, went for the all you can eat Gold membership, $35 per year.

The various plans can be found here: http://chesstempo.com/memberships.html

I think what you can safely say is:

"This tactics score is similar to players with an average of FIDE rating of XXXX. Presuming you have similar non-tactical OTB skills to these players, your rating should be around XXXX, give or take a large margin of error."

So what's your estimated FIDE rating?

Over 9000

My chesstempo standard rating is 1962 at the moment, and my USCF OTB rating is 1579

whats chess tempo?

yeah i know that, but whats chesstempo meant in this forum topic? a site? or trainer?

Yes, the Tactics Trainer on this site is WAY over-rated. I am 2781 here in TT, and my FIDE rating is over 500 points below that.

I saw your screen name on page one of TT and, regardless of your FIDE rating, 2781 is pretty amazing!

Again, thanks to all for your feedback. I realize that tacitcs ratings don't always predict within 200 points what a person's FIDE rating would be. Even Chess Tempo gives out that disclaimer. I was simply curious as to how close FIDE/USCF rated players found it to be, since I am unrated.  Some say it's close and, some say it isn't. Oh well.